72% of business leaders admit that their teams have struggled with communication in the last year. Fortunately, we identified three common areas where collaboration breaks down and provided a simple fix for each. Are you ready to turn your misaligned team into a highly synergized and productive unit? Read on to find out how! https://lnkd.in/g7kSgUBH
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In the high-stakes world of business, the success stories we often hear tend to focus on the leaders at the helm. However, behind these successful figures stands a key player whose mastery of collaboration often goes unnoticed: the Executive Assistant (EA). In my latest Forbes article, I illuminate the critical role EAs play in powering the business world's top executives through unparalleled collaboration techniques. Drawing insights from the innovative community at eaMAFIA—a collective of high-achieving EAs who support some of the corporate realm's most influential individuals—I expose the art of collaboration from an EA's unique perspective. Kelly Kovacs, CEO of eaMAFIA, along with several seasoned EAs, share their wisdom on fostering effective collaboration within high-powered teams. Here are the core insights: Trust and Communication: The foundation of effective collaboration starts with trust and clear communication. Shelley Trask, EA to Cal Henderson of Slack, shares how these elements have been crucial in navigating the company's rapid growth and acquisition. Adaptability and Diversity in Approach: Recognizing the strength in our differences and adjusting collaboration styles to fit the situation and team members involved is key for achieving success in today's fast-paced business environment, as highlighted by Janet Kim of Clubhouse. Flexibility and Adaptability Are Vital: The dynamic nature of business today requires teams to be highly adaptable. Kristen Lee from Modern Health and others attest to the importance of being able to pivot quickly and efficiently to meet ever-changing priorities and goals. EAs, with their unique position and skill set, prove to be some of the most adept at navigating and facilitating the intricacies of collaboration within the corporate world. Dive into the full article for a deeper understanding of why the role of the Executive Assistant is paramount in sculpting the business landscape, and how their expertise in collaboration can serve as a blueprint for us all. Let's appreciate the unsung heroes in business who play a pivotal role in the success of their leaders and organizations. #Leadership #Collaboration #Executive #BusinessStrategy #SuccessMindset #VestedWay
3 Collaboration Tips From EAs Supporting The Most Powerful People In Business
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Transforming leadership and conversation; creator, OBREAU conversation model; author, In the Leadership Mode
When collaboration falters, dialogue is called for! In this June ‘24 HBR article, the authors from Gartner state that “78% of organizational leaders report experiencing what we call collaboration drag — too many meetings, too much peer feedback, unclear decision-making authority, and too much time spent getting buy-in from stakeholders”. For me, whenever collaboration is held up or hindered, it’s useful to remember that successful partnership implies the parties thinking together. They need to explore their respective needs and concerns and jointly figure out a way through that advances organisational priorities and works for those involved. This process of thinking together is what I mean by dialogue. It’s rarely a straightforward process but usually is doable – even when there are intense pressures, competing priorities and people feeling overwhelmed and under-supported. Let's think of a function owner I’ll call Sam. Sam is frustrated because another organisational function is supposed to be working with Sam on a change initiative. Sam says, “they are giving the work lip service, they are not really engaged or committed. They’re concerned only about their own stuff”. Sam also says, “they would never participate in dialogue”. Maybe that’s true. But a question is, can Sam approach the challenge in a spirit of dialogue and deal with the other party however they show up at the time? A first imperative is to avoid reacting and rushing to interpretation. Instead of saying, “they are giving the work lip service”, Sam might reflect on how this is manifest. What specifically are they doing or not? How can I (Sam) make their behaviour more explicit, more observable – and more testable? Also, what else might be going on that I can’t see? Second, it’s vital to set aside your judgment (“only concerned about their own stuff”) and mindfully consider what might be going on for them. They have a story they’re telling themselves to make sense of the situation. Their story adds up, seems reasonable, to them. If Sam can bring some curiosity to learn about their reality, Sam may find their own understanding of the situation shifts considerably. A third essential is for Sam to take a personal deep dive and contemplate their own truth on what’s going on, without lapsing into judgment and keeping an eye to the observable data. What can Sam share that is a relevant, personal truth? Is there a request Sam wants to make? What about something by way of support that Sam might offer the other party? Collaboration is always a work in progress and especially challenging in the kinds of complex, high pressure situations the authors describe. Yet, if we can notice and then put to one side all the various strategies and solutions that could be applied, at the heart, collaboration is essentially a challenge centring on high quality conversation, dialogue. https://lnkd.in/gvpgrH7H
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Stalls, and How to Fix It
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10 Tips for Cross-Functional Teams to Improve Collaboration 😍 Cross-functional teams are a critical tool for success in today's complex business world. Unlike conventional teams, cross-functional teams prioritize value creation and creativity by eliminating organizational communication barriers and conflicts of interest. To ensure the effectiveness of cross-functional collaboration, consider these 10 tips. ➡️ Manage the System, Not People: Focus on managing the system and processes, rather than micromanaging individual team members. View the team as a dynamic system and optimize it. ➡️ Practice Systems and Complexity Thinking: Develop an understanding of complexity within your team and organization. Consider the interactions and interdependencies between different departments. ➡️ Challenge the System: Be ready to question and challenge existing systems and processes. Encourage innovative thinking to improve efficiency and effectiveness. ➡️ Be Humble and Patient: Recognize that cross-functional teamwork can be challenging. Stay humble and patient when dealing with diverse perspectives and ideas. ➡️ Empower People and Teams: Step back and empower individuals and teams to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Foster a culture of autonomy and accountability. ➡️ Use Your Power Wisely: As a leader, use your influence judiciously. Support and guide the team without dominating or imposing your views. ➡️ Stay Away from Operative Work and Decisions: Avoid getting involved in day-to-day operational tasks and decisions. Trust your team's expertise and let them handle their responsibilities. ➡️ Increase the Probability of the Unlikely: Encourage innovative solutions and unconventional ideas. Embrace the possibility of unexpected breakthroughs. ➡️ Mind the Observer Effect: Recognize that your presence and actions as a leader can influence team behavior. Be aware of how your interactions impact the team's dynamics. ➡️ Expect Surprises and Prepare: Anticipate that challenges and surprises will arise. Have contingency plans in place and maintain adaptability to handle unexpected situations. Cross-functional teams can be a powerful force for innovation and problem-solving when managed effectively. These tips can help you navigate the complexities of such teams and achieve better outcomes. #crossfunctionalteams
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The C-Suite drinking their mugs of success together, congratulating themselves of aligning their goals, doesn't actually trickle down to improve cross-functional #collaboration. Not surprisingly, executive alignment (agreement on goals and priorities at the top of the management hierarchy) doesn't help break down barriers between teams and functions. It turns out, according to this HBR/Gartner piece, that - similar to intra-team collaboration - cross-functional collaboration comes from within. A few things that can help: #CollaborationTool optimisation. Naturally. If we're not aligned in using the tech, how can we collaborate with other functions? #InterpersonalSkills not surprisingly are key to help build trust and relationships #CriticalThinking skills. How else do we open the door to collaboration if we're not looking critically at what we do? Of course, everything to make cross-functional collaboration work has to be practical. It has to be embedded in day-to-day work, not in laminated posters showing how well aligned we all are to the mission and goals of the organisation. The goals are important, and they should provide direction. But teams need to understand who they collaborate with, why they do so and how this can be improved. Identifying barriers to collaboration, and how to overcome them, is a great starting point. https://lnkd.in/gpAnrcny
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Stalls, and How to Fix It
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IT Director | Head of IT | Program, Project & Product Leadership | Change & Transformation | IT Strategy | IT Service Management | Digital Transformation Realised: I help you unlock agility, productivity & value
Feel like your company's cross-functional collaboration is stuck in quicksand? You're not alone. Gartner just dropped a bomb. 78% of leaders are drowning in "collaboration drag." Too many meetings, endless feedback loops, and decision-making that's about as clear as mud. Sound familiar? But here's the kicker – fixing this isn't about more kumbaya moments at the C-suite. No. The real magic happens when you empower your teams to navigate the chaos. Try this: ↳ Extend alignment practices to your teams ↳ Equip teams with critical thinking, active listening & communication skills ↳ Hunt down collaboration drag within your own function (it's hiding there too!) Remember, cross-functional work is messy. With the right tools, your team can thrive in the chaos instead of getting buried by it. How are you maximising cross functional collaboration? Find out more from HBR: https://lnkd.in/e6KH9JCK
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Stalls, and How to Fix It
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Indeed collaboration is stalling in most organizations and although you can try to fix it but making it an "executive topic", hire people that are more collaborative, invent new frameworks and meeting structures to bring people together the underlying problem is never touched: As long as you organize your company in different departments that are all following different goals, collaboration will always stall: e.g. the goal of the IT Security it to provide the most secure environment, while the goal of the development department is to give their developers as much as freedom as possible so that they can work - now naturally those things collide, unless you find a joint goal for both. Now granted a simple example, but I think you get the point. In my view to really foster collaboration you need to focus your company purely on the final products you are building and form product teams around them with the on and only goal to provide the best product to their customers, combined with overall outcome driven goals - it is of course easier set then done, but too often I witness in companies that everyone is following their own goals and then people are puzzled why no collaboration exists :-) #collaboration #mindset #team #work #productdriven #management #okrs https://lnkd.in/dURFp4yW
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Stalls, and How to Fix It
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I understand the mechanics of helping others see the potential in things they haven’t seen before. The moment others shift from "I don't get it" to "Oh, I'm intrigued."
Ok. So now "Collaboration drag" is a thing. There are some interesting insights here about "people-pleasing" tendencies. I'd also argue that there should be a conversation about the perception of power. When you ask to be included in a meeting or to be a decision-maker, are you on a critical path, or are you validating your power? Yes, I said it. That said, what I think is WAY more interesting is not how to fix it but how to identify where your company has collaboration drag. Collaboration drag might be a resource problem—you have a single bottleneck in a decision path, which you fix one way. Or it might be a power problem—you have a bottleneck because someone needs to validate their power, which needs a totally different solution. And yes, the "people pleaser" version in the article is about power. Tip: Check out Performica and Alex Furman's work. They've figured out how to identify these often invisible bottlenecks and where you have collaboration drag in your organization. You might not need to know this today, but if you've got a large cross-functional project in your future, it's worth finding this out before you start.
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Stalls, and How to Fix It
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Strategic CIO | CISO / Cybersecurity | Business Partner | Digital Transformation Leader | Trusted Advisor | Growth Enabler
Being a CIO means interacting with lots of different teams and finding ways that said teams can better communicate with one another... and it's not always easy! Improving cross-functional collaboration can be a complex process, but it's definitely worth it. In fact, Sharon Cantor Ceurvorst, Kristina LaRocca-Cerrone, Aparajita Mazumdar, and Anja Naski report that "When collaboration drag is high, we’ve found businesses are 37% less likely to exceed their revenue and profit targets, failing at the very things their lofty cross-functional agendas are meant to achieve." Here are the 3 main steps to take if you want to see more communication and collaboration among different departments: 1. Extend executive alignment practices down to tactical levels. 2. Develop employee strategic and interpersonal skills. 3. Look for collaboration drag within functions or teams. #CrossCollaboration #CIO #LeadershipTips
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Stalls, and How to Fix It
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Experienced Project Manager | Driving Success in Digital Retail Transformations | Agile & Strategic Leadership | Technology Integration Expert
In today's complex business environment, effective cross-functional collaboration is crucial yet often challenging. A recent Gartner survey highlights that collaboration drag significantly hampers organizational success. Here are three vital strategies to enhance collaboration: 💡 Empower Tactical Alignment: It's not enough to align at the executive level. Extend these practices to tactical levels by fostering transparency and trust. This approach helps identify and resolve collaboration issues where they occur. 📚 Invest in Skills Development: Equip your team with essential strategic and interpersonal skills. Practical training and mentorship, rather than just on-demand courses, are key to reducing collaboration drag and achieving better project outcomes. 🛠️ Optimize Internal Processes: Prioritize essential collaboration within functions. By mapping processes and setting clear priorities, you can eliminate unnecessary tasks and improve both efficiency and innovation. By adopting these strategies, you can turn collaboration from a challenge into a powerful driver of success. 🚀
Why Cross-Functional Collaboration Stalls, and How to Fix It
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From Idea to Impact: How Leaders Can Foster Virtual Collaboration Do you love the idea of collaboration but struggle to build a strong foundation for it in your team? As a leader, you understand the importance of fostering a collaborative environment. It's about bringing people together to share unique ideas and innovate, while still allowing individual space. Stronger collaboration is key to unlocking innovation in your organization. By avoiding "groupthink" and promoting collaborative thinking, you can unlock the full potential of your team. Here are some actionable steps you can take today to create a more collaborative environment: Set Clear Expectations Create agendas and define desired outcomes for meetings to keep everyone focused. Define Good Collaboration Discuss with your team what effective collaboration looks like in your context. Encourage open sharing of ideas to achieve the meeting's goals. Embrace Curiosity When team members share ideas, ask questions that spark exploration (how, what, would, could) instead of shutting down with critical "why" questions. Value New Perspectives Show appreciation for the unique insights and information your team brings forward. When people feel valued, they're more likely to share and collaborate. Summarize and Take Action Within 24 hours (or use a meeting tool for real-time action items), send a meeting summary with action items to your team. Encourage them to add further comments to ensure all voices are heard. Leading a virtual team requires extra effort to build collaboration, especially during challenging times. However, by championing collaboration for innovation, you'll set your team up for success. Remember George Patton's advice: "Tell people what to do, not how to do it. Let them surprise you with their results." Need more assistance in improving the performance of your virtual team? We've got you covered! DM me to set up a short call. #tenaciousleadershipinstitute #teamwork #leadershipdevelopment #collaboration #leadership
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